Dumping apparatus.



1 Pia-634,643. Patented Oct. I0, 1899.

G M KENNEDY DUMPING APPARATUS.

' (Applicaticn flied May 8, 15994) 4 2 SheetsSheet i,

(No Model.)

9 9 mm m c flu d e T n 8 LI- a IM Y AB EH7 N in K m n a M a m No. 634L643.

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"PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. KENNEDY, or DENISON, IOWA.

.DUM PING APPARATUS.

srnorrrontrion forming part of Letters Batent No. 634,643, dated October 10, 1899. Application filed May 8, 1399- Serial No. 715,971. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Deni? son, in the county of Crawford and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Dumping Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in dumping apparatus especially adapted for use in emptying vehicles loaded with grain or other commodities; and the primary object that I have in view is to provide a simple and compact structure which may be controlled manually to lower the vehicle without shock and jar. A furtherobj ect is to provide means forlock:

mg the tiltable'track beams or rails on which the vehicle is adapted to rest secure in their raised horizontal positions, and thus'hold the rails againstdisplacement under the weight of the loaded vehicle which is imposed on said rails. With this rail-locking device is asso? ciated a detent mechanism that is operatively connected with the rail-adjustin g mechanism to control the latter, said detentmechanism being operative with the rail-locking mechanism. I

, With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts,

which will be hereinafterifully described and claimed. v

To enable others to, understand the invention, I have illustrated it in the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, and in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dumping apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the platformon the plane of one of thetiltable track beams or rails, the section being taken on the line. 2 2'of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section on the plane indicated by the dotted line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is an enlarged detail view on the line 4 at of Fig. 3 to show a part of the rail adjusting mechanism and .the detent mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the track beams or rails.

The same numerals of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.-

In carrying my invention into practice I en1- ploy a horizontal platform 10, which is supported on a suitable framework 11, that serves to sustain the platform in a raised position. Contiguous to this platform is an ascent or incline, upon which the loaded vehicle may I be driven to gain access to the platform in order to rest upon the track beams or rails previous to the loaded vehicle being lowered to an inclined position for the purpose of dumping the load; but as the ascent is a common feature in structures of this character I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the same.

' The horizontal platform 101's provided near one end and in the median line thereof with a discharge-opening 12, which normally is closed by a trap-door 13, which is hinged or otherwiseconnected at one edge to the platform. Said platform is furthermore provided with longitudinal railopenings or slots 14, which are disposed in planes on opposite sides of the trap-door l3 and are arranged parallel to each other. These rail-openings are spaced apart a distance equivalent to the Width of thevehicle, and on opposite sides of the openings or slots are arrangedthe sills 1 5, which lie below the top or floor of the platform. The track beams or rails 16 are fitted snugly in the longitudinal slots or openings 14, each rail corresponding in length and width to the slot'in which it is fitted. The two rails may be of any suitable construction approved by those skilled in the art, and each beam is pivotally supported at a pointintermediate its lengthen apivotal bolt 17, that passes through the beam or rail and is fitted in certain of the longitudinal sills 15. The beams are arranged to tilt to the inclined positions illustrated by full lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and with the two beams or rails are associated operating' and locking devices that are adapted to simultaneously release and adjust the rails in order that they may'assume coincident positions, particularly when. the vehicle is lowered and raised; Each beam is constructed or provided with a transverse notch-18 in one end face thereof, and this notch .is inclined to provide the abrupt shoulder 19. I 1

in a position adjacent to the notched ends of the beams or rails. Thisshaft is vjournaled IOO - A locking-shaft 2G is arrangedtransversely across the platform, near one end thereof, and

or supported in bearings 21, which are fixed to the sills of the platform, and the shaft is provided at points intermediate its length with the cranks 22, which are arranged to engage with the shoulders 19 in the notched ends of the two beams or rails for the purpose of supporting the latter in their raised positions flush with the surface of the platform 10. At one end this locking-shaft is bent or otherwise constructed to provide the treadle-arm 23, which extends upwardly from the horizontal plane of the locking-shaft and passes through the short slot 24, that is formed in the platform 10,-near one edge thereof, and the upper end of this treadle-arm is provided with a treadle 25, disposed above the platform in a position convenient to the operator for the purpose of rocking the shaft 20 in its hearings in order to adjust the cranks 22 from engagement with the notched ends of the track beams or rails. lVith this lockingshaft is combined a spring 26, which serves to hold the shaft in a position for its cranks 22 to lie in the path of the notched endsof the beams or rails, and this shaft is adapted to yield or give when the rails are elevated, so that the shoulders 19 on said rails will pass the cranks of the shaft, after which the spring actuates the shaft to make its cranks snap intolengagement with the shoulderslof said rails. In thedrawings I'havc represented the spring as of the coiled variety and disposed in a horizontal position below the platform, adjacent to the treadle-arm 23 of the locking-shaft. One end of this spring isvconnected to the platform and its other end is at tached to the treadle-arm of the lockingshaft, whereby the spring is made to actuate the shaft. I do not, however, limit myself to the particular type of spring employed nor -to its arrangement on the platform, as I am aware that the spring'may bedii'ferently constructed and arranged without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The means for adjusting the pivoted track beams or rails 16 are embodied in the form of a horizontal shaft 27, which is disposed beneath the platform in a position adjacent to the opposite ends of the rails or beams. This rail-adjusting shaft is journaled in bearings 28, secured to the platform-sills, on the under side thereof, and to said shaft is attached the chains or cables 20, which are adapted to be coiled on the shaft in order to depress the elevated ends of the rails or beams when they are inclined. These chainsor cables are fastened'to eyebolts 30 on the, ends of the trackbcams'adjacent to the shaft 27, and said shaft is furthermore provided with 'a sprocketwheel 31, adapted to operate in a longitudinal slot or opening 31 at one side of the platform 10. Around this sprocket-wheel is fitted an endless sprocket-chain 32, which extends to and around a sprocketpinion 33. Said sprocket-pinion is secured to a crank-shaft 34, which is mounted in a position above the platform 10 by means of the bearings 35. In

the drawings I have represented one of these shaft-bearings as secured to a short frame 36, and the other bearing is mounted in a standard 37, attached to the platform in a position to bring its bearing in alinement with the shaft-bearin g 35, whereby the crank-shaft is supported in a position over the treadle 25 to bring the rail-adjusting mechanism and the treadle for the rail-locking shaft close together, so that a single operator may control the shaft 27 and the locking-shaft 20. The crank-shaft 34 is provided atone end with a crank-wheel 38, on which is secured a hand crank 39, which may be operated by the at tendant for the purpose of rotating the shaft 34, the motion of which is transmitted by a sprocket-gearing to the rai-l-adjustingshaft 27. i he crank-shaft 34-is-f-urthermore provided Wit-ha ratchet-wheel 40, with which engages the nose of a gravity-pawl 41. Said pawl is pivoted at a point intermediate its length,- as at 42, to the frame 36, that supports the crank-shaf t, and to the heel or short arm of this gravity-pawl is connected a link 43, the lower end of which is suitably at tached to the treadle 25 of the rail-locking shaft. It will thus be seen that thedetent mechanism, which is formed'bythe pawl and ratchet, is connected operatively with the rail-locking mechanism, and the adjustment of the treadle 25 for the purposewof throwing the cranks 22 of the rail-locking shaft outof engagement with the notched ends of the pivoted track beams or rails also adjusts the pawl 41 to :free its nose from the ratchetwheel 40, wherebythe-operator is able to control the descent of the loaded vehicle and the pivoted rails through thecran k-shaft 34, the sprocket-gearing, and the rail-adjusting shaft 27.

This being the construction of mydumping apparatus, the operation may be described as follows: With the pivoted rails in their raised positions flush with the platform and engaged by the cranks of the Iockingshaft, the loaded vehicle is driven on the platform to rest upon the pivoted rails. The operator now opens the trap-door 13 and grasps the crank of'tihe shaft 34. The treadle 25 isdepressed to rock the shaft 20 in its "bearings and throw the cranks 22 from engagement with the shoulders on the notched ends of the beams or rails 16, and this adjustment of the treadle also moves the gravity-pawl 41 free from engagement with the ratchet 40. The pivoted rails having been released from their locking devices,the weight of the'loaded vehicle tends to turn the pivot-rails on their pivot-bolts 17 but the descent of the rails and the loaded vehicle may .be checked and controlled by the operator grasping the handcrank of the crank-shaft 34, whereby the rails and the loaded vehicle may be lowered gradually without shock to the apparatus. As thevehicle is lowered to the inclined dumping position the grain or other contents of said Vehicle are discharged into the'opening f ll 12. It will be understood that a suitable chute may communicate with the opening 12 to convey the load into a receptacle or the receptacle may be formed by the framework 11, which supports the platform in its ele-- vated position. In the operation of lowering the tiltable rails and the vehicle resting thereon the pawl 41 may at any time be thrown into engagement with the ratchetwheel to arrest the descent of the rails and the vehicle, but ordinarily the operator keeps the treadle in a depressed position, so as to maintain the pawl 41 free from engagement with the ratchet. Previous to raising the rails and the vehicle resting thereon the operator releases the treadle 25, which permits the spring 26 to move the locking-shaft 20 into a position where its cranks 22 lie in the path of the notched ends of the pivoted rails spring 26 and the pawl 41 engages with the ratchetwheel. The operator rotates the crank-shaft 34:, the motion of which is transmitted by the sprocket-gearing to the shaft 27. This shaft winds the chains or cables 29 on itself and depresses the raised ends of the track-beams. As the beams or rails 16 approach the horizontal plane of the platform 10 the notched ends thereof ride against the cranks of the shaft 20, and by the time that said rails lie flush with the platform the shoulders 19 of the rails clear the cranks, whereupon the pulls the locking-shaft in a direction for the cranks 22 to engage with the shoulders 19 of the beams or rails to maintain the latter in the horizontal positions flush with the platform. The vehicle may now be drawn over the platform and the trap-door 13 closed flush with the platform, after which the apparatus is in condition for unloading another vehicle. a

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificin g any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a dumping apparatus, the combination with a platform and tiltable beams or rails thereon, of a rail-adjusting mechanism connected operatively with one end of said beams or rails, alocking mechanism contiguone to the opposite ends of said rails to engage therewith, and a detent mechanism in active relation to the rail-adj usting mechanism and connected operatively with the locking mechanism, whereby the detent mechanism releases the rail-adjusting mechanism when said locking mechanism is free from ongagement with the rails, substantially as described.

2. In a dumping apparatus, the combination with stationary and movable members of a platformpand a locking mechanism for the movable platform members, of a manuallyoperative adjusting mechanism connected with a movable platform member, and a detent mechanism operative in unison with the locking mechanism and arranged to restrain the adjusting mechanism substantially as described.

3. In a dumping apparatus, the combination with stationary and movable members of a platform, and a locking mechanism for said movable members, of a crank-shaft having operative connections with said movable platform members, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for the crank-shaft, andoperative connections from the locking mechanism to said pawl to control the latter, substantially as described.

4. In a dumping apparatus, the combina* tion with a platform rails pivotally supported thereon, and a locking mechanism to engage with said rails, of an adjusting-shaft connected with the rails, a crank-shaft geared to the'adj Listing-shaft, and a detent mechanism in operative relation to the crank-shaft and connected with the locking mechanism-to be controlled thereby, forthe purpose described, substantially as set forth.

5. In a dumping apparatus, the combination with a platform, pivoted rails or beams thereon, and a locking mechanism in active relation to said pivoted rails, of an adjustingshaft having cables or chains attached to said pivoted rails, a crank-shaft geared to the adeEo. M. KENNEDY.

Vt itnesses:

E. Gomon, A. OSWALD. 

